Chapter One: Unanswered Questions
The world seems not the same
Though I know nothing has changed
It's all my state of mind
I can't leave it all behind
I have to stand up to be stronger
-Pale by Within Temptation
"Will you two stop pacing?" George asked. Harry and Ron had been continuously pacing the kitchen since the adults had left the room, each going in the opposite directions on either side of the room.
"And it's hard to hear what they're saying, even with the extendable ears, with the two of you doing that." Fred said trying to move closer to the door.
"What are they saying?" Harry asked setting down next to George.
"Something about a bunch of owls being spotted" He told him, "And that they need to take action."
"Professor McGonagall said that she isn't safe there anymore and that next time they shouldn't be so obvious in there choice of hiding places." Fred continued, "Wonder who there talking about..."
"We heard Remus say something about Hermione before they went in." Ginny said from her place by the fire.
"So that's why the two of you were pacing." Fred said understanding.
"Well in that case go back to it." George said, "We might even join you."
"Is what they're saying really that bad?" Ron asked his pacing coming to a sudden halt.
"Yes and no." Fred said, "They seem to think she's in danger but she's obviously still alive. That's a good thing right?"
"I think your attempt at humor crashed and burned there." George said when no one responded, "But you have a point. They're worried, that's rather obvious, but if she was in immediate danger they would be leaving to go get her."
"Yeah I guess so." Harry mumbled still worried. Why would Hermione have to go into hiding? Had the wizarding world gotten so bad that they didn't think it was safe for any of the muggleborns to go home, or was it just Hermione that was in such grave danger? And why hadn't anyone mentioned anything to him about it? Why hadn't she mentioned it to him? She has sent him several letters over the summer so far and she had never mentioned anything about this. Hermione had never mentioned that she wasn't going home over the summer. In fact she had specifically said that she was looking forward to sleeping in her bedroom where she wouldn't be woken up by Lavender and Parvarti's giggles at all hours of the night. Did she lie to him or did she not know herself?
His thoughts were broken as Mr. and Mrs. Weasley came through the door followed by Remus, Professor McGonagall and Snape.
"What's going on? What's happened to Hermione?" Ron asked not caring that he was letting on that they had overheard them talking.
"Nothing, yet." Remus said with a sigh. It was obvious that they knew at least some of what was going on and they all knew that they couldn't keep this from them for long. At least now he wouldn't have to explain everything. "But we do think something might." He continued.
"Why?" Harry asked.
"There were several owls spotted in her area and we think that she might be being watched." Mr. Weasley explained, "It is just a precaution but we think we should bring her back here."
"If she was in such danger then why wasn't she here in the first place?" Harry asked angrily.
"There isn't time for this." Snape said sneering, "We need to leave now."
"What was that you were saying George?" Harry snapped at him.
"Your right Severus" Professor McGonagall said ignoring Harry, "Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley, you will be going with Remus and Severus to get Miss Granger."
"Why?" Ron asked earning a smack in the back of the head from Harry.
"Don't question it" he hissed, "They might change there minds."
"We thought she'd prefer it if she had friends there." Professor McGonagall said.
"We will be able to explain more after we get back." Remus said, "But Severus is right we need to leave."
"Hurry up." Remus said extending his arm, "Harry hold on to my arm and Ron hold on to Professor Snape's." Snape slowly raised his arm, a scowl on his face, and Ron unhappily took it. Harry felt bad that Ron got stuck apparating with Snape but he was glad that it wasn't him. He was pretty sure that Snape felt the same.
Harry and Remus disapparated first and in the blink of an eye he found himself in a dark bedroom. On the other side of the room was a bed with a little bit of brown curly hair poking out from underneath its covers. A minute later Snape and Ron were beside him, unlinking arms as fast as possible.
"One of you boys should wake her up." Remus said quietly, "It would probably frighten her less." Knowing the Hermione wasn't a morning person Harry pushed Ron towards the bed deciding that he didn't want to have to deal with her wrath.
"Fine" Ron grumbled setting on the edge of the bed, "I'll do it."
"Hermione," he said softly shaking her, "Hermione you need to wake up."
Ron's presence had little effect on her as she just mumbled something incoherent before rolling over. "Hermione its time to wake up now" Ronsaid, "You need to wake up, it's important."
"Hermione you need to wake up" he repeated getting frustrated. Leave it to Hermione to do what she wanted even when she was asleep. "Hermione, you sleep through the Potions test" he said changing tactics. "And Professor Snape is here and he's very angry with you."
"What? Whatdidyousay?" she mumbled setting up.
"That got her up." Harry said with a laugh.
"What's going on?" Hermione asked, "What are you doing here Ron? If Viktor and his father find you here-"
"Viktor?" Ron demanded, "As in Krum? You're staying here with Viktor Krum? I suppose your sleeping in his room too..."
"Well yes-" she began in a soft voice.
"This is his room?" Ron asked even angrier if that was possible.
"He's sleeping on the couch." She said, "But if you don't shut up then he's going to come in here and start hexing you all."
"Speaking of which, why are you here?" she asked standing up revealing her short black nightgown. Harry had never her seen her dressed in anything like that, and suddenly felt very uncomfortable about being in her room this late at night.
"We think you might be in danger." Remus explained quietly,"We're going to take you back with us." He could tell Hermione was scared from the look on her face. This was supposed to be a safe place for her. They specifically told her that and now it was if they were taking it back. She didn't like that feeling.
"Go wake up Viktor and tell him that you're leaving. We will collect your things for you." Remus told her with a smile.
"Okay." She said quietly. "My trunks are in the closet and I have some stuff in the bathroom and some books on the desk. They should have my name in them." She said before disappearing from the room.
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"Viktor" Hermione whispered, "Viktor wake up.
"Vot is it?" he said quickly setting up, his eyes darting around the room, "Vot's going on Hermy-ownninny?"
"Don't worry everything's alright." She said with what she hoped was a reassuring smile, "But some people are here from the Order to take me back."
"Vot do you mean, take you back?" he asked.
"To take me back home Viktor." she said grabbing his hand. "They're in the bedroom, come on." She said leading him back into her room.
Harry and Ron noticed Hermione and Viktor holding hands as they came back into the room and Harry felt Ron tense up beside him. It was comforting to know that something's would never change, and it seemed like Hermione's relationship with Viktor, whatever it may be, would always bother Ron.
"Vot is going on?" Viktor asked quickly, "Vot has happened? Should we vake my father?"
"No, no. There's no need for that." Remus said.
"Then what's going on Remus?" Hermione asked, "Has something happened? Should someone warn my parents?"
"Are your parents here too?" Harry asked.
"No there still at the house." She answered distractedly.
"Then why aren't-" Ron asked.
"Mr. Weasley this is no time to be asking these types of questions." Snape snapped at him, "We need to leave."
"Viktor tell your parents thank you and that Dumbledore will meet with them soon." Remus said, "But don't tell them until the morning. There's no bother waking them up at this hour."
"We need to leave before anyone realizes we're here. Mr. Krum." Professor Snape said, "Make sure to stay with your normal schedule and try to hide the fact that Miss Granger is gone for as long as possible."
"Yes, sir." He said with a nod.
"Come along Hermione," Remus said, "Severus is right, we need to leave. We've already gathered your things."
"Vhere are you taking her?" Viktor asked.
"You know they can't tell you that." Hermione said squeezing his hand, "But I'll make sure that someone contacts you if anything happens."
"Ve careful Hermy-ownniny." He said kissing her on the cheek. Harry could see Ron's cheek redden with anger even in the dark.
"How are we getting back?" she asked stepping away from Viktor and closer to Harry and Ron. There was a part of her that just wanted to hug them and tell them how much she missed them but she knew that this wasn't the time and suppressed the urge.
"We're apparating to the Burrow" Remus said, "Harry and Ron will be going with me and you'll be going with Severus."
"Goodbye Viktor." She said taking Professor Snape's offered arm. She smiled at him weakly but he only returned a frown. She knew that he wasn't happy to see her go. They had had a nice time while they were there together. They had grown closer over the time they had spent together and she would be sad to see it over with. But it was nothing compared to what she had with Harry and Ron. She was finally going home. That was what she had wanted the whole time she was here. Wasn't it?
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"Hermione thank goodness your okay!" Mrs. Weasley said hurrying over to her and enveloping her in her hug. Hermione patted her on the back and did her best not to act uncomfortable as Mrs. Weasley squeezed her tightly.
"It's nice to see you again." Mr. Weasley said once Mrs. Weasley had released her.
"It definitely is a nice view." George said quietly. "What is that your wearing, Hermione?" he said louder.
"Oh, umm…it's a muggle nightgown." she said only just realizing what she was wearing.
"It must be nice to be a muggle sometimes." Fred said with a smile.
"That is quite enough" Mrs. Weasley said taking control of the situation. "Everyone is to go up to bed its late."
"But Mrs. Weasley—" Hermione began.
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions dear" she said with a sympathizing smile, "But I think we are all too tired to explain properly, right now. Now we have to make some different sleeping arrangements. Severus is of course going back to Hogwarts but Remus will be staying here, you're in the Bill's old room with Kingsley, and Harry you'll sleep in Ron's and of course Tonks is already in bed."
"Which presents a problem," Mr. Weasley said, "As she's in Ginny's room and that's where Hermione usually sleeps."
"I don't really care where I sleep." Hermione told them, "Anywhere's fine."
"She could sleep in are room" George suggested with false innocence.
"What, so you can take a closer look at her nightgown?" Ron asked crossly.
"Well that wouldn't be a bad thing." He mumbled under his breath.
"Why don't I sleep in the living room?" Hermione said confused about the conversation going on, "Really, I don't mind."
"That would probably create fewer problems…" Mr. Weasley said.
"I suppose." Mrs. Weasley said though it was clear she wasn't thrilled with the idea, "I'll go make up a bed for you."
Mr. and Mrs. Weasley left to make up the living-room while Snape said a quick goodbye, his eyes lingering on Hermione longer than anyone liked, and then apparated back to Hogwarts. Harry and Ron exchanged worried looks over all the attention Snape had been giving Hermione, even Remus seemed to have noticed, but everyone stayed silent. Sensing the tension in the room Hermione quickly excused herself, mumbling goodnight before following Mr. and Mrs. Weasley into the living room.
"There are extra blankets in the wardrobe upstairs." Mrs. Weasley said as she smoothed the blanket over the transfigured bed.
"Thank you Mrs. Weasley." She said, "I'm sure this will be fine."
"Well then goodnight dear." Mrs. Weasley said with a tight smile before heading upstairs.
"If you hear any strange noises, don't worry about it." Mr. Weasley told her, "It's probably just the garden gnomes; they've been especially loud lately. That or it's the twins…."
"Thanks Mr. Weasley" she said with a laugh, "I'll be sure to remember that."
Hermione settled back on the bed as Mr. Weasley turned out the lights. She pulled the covers over her, as she hoped for sleep to come. But she laid there for hours and sleep still didn't come but the thoughts about what was happening to her never seemed to end.
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Unable to take it any more, Hermione quietly made her way upstairs into Harry and Ron's bedroom. She lightly knocked on the door and listened for response but all she could hear was Ron snoring. She slowly opened the door and saw Harry looking for his glasses. "I thought I heard someone coming upstairs." he said with a small smile.
"I'm sorry were you asleep?" she asked, "I didn't mean to wake anyone up…I wasn't really thinking. I just couldn't sleep—"
"It's okay Hermione." He said, "I was already awake."
"Really?" she asked setting down on the edge of his bed, "You couldn't sleep either?"
"Not really." he said setting up, "They never really explained anything. I thought they had invited me back to the Burrow because they knew how much I don't like it at the Dursley's, but then they started talking about you and now I'm not so sure."
"Do you think we're in more danger then there letting on?" she whispered. He wasn't sure if it was because she was trying not to wake up Ron or if she was just scared.
"I don't know" Harry said, "But this wouldn't be the first time when we weren't told everything. Why didn't you tell us you were staying with Viktor and his family?"
"I didn't know I was going to." She said, "I went home for the first week and then Professor Dumbledore and Remus sent an owl asking if it was okay if they came to my house. Apparently Professor Snape had overheard some of the Deatheaters talking about a girl. Obviously they thought it was me, so they had me pack my bags and they took me to Viktor's house. I've been there since the second week of summer but a couple of days ago I started noticing Viktor and his father acting strangely. I asked him about it and he said it was nothing, but it still felt like something was wrong. And then everyone came and got me, now I know something's wrong."
"I'm sure everything will be fine." Harry said trying his best to comfort her, "There are several members from the Order here; they'll make sure that nothing happens to anyone."
"Umm…do you think it would be alright if I spent the night in here?" Hermione asked looking around, "I just…I don't want to be alone right now."
"It's fine Hermione." He said pushing back his covers, "There's room enough for both of us." Hermione climbed into the bed next to him, her head and body a safe distance from his.
"Thank you Harry." She said quietly.
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"Well, look what we have here." George said a large smile on his face.
"You do work fast Harry." Fred said, "Or maybe it's slow."
"You have known her for several years now." George said.
"What are you two going on about?" Harry mumbled reaching for his glasses only to find Hermione instead. Sometime during the night she had cuddled up next to him and her head was now on his chest. "Oh, forgot about her." He said finally finding her glasses.
"What do you mean you forgot about her?" Ron asked still in his own bed, "And why is she up here in the first place?"
"Umm…she said she couldn't sleep." He said slightly embarrassed.
"Well she's asleep now." Fred said, "What did you do? Tire her out?"
"Let's just wake her up before your parents notice her missing." Harry said a blush rising on his cheeks.
"A little late for that mate," George said, "They sent us up to see if she was in here."
"Maybe we should let her sleep if she had trouble sleeping." Ron said choosing to believe Harry.
"I don't think she would like that." Harry said shaking his head, "She wants to get some answers and she'll be mad at all of us if we let her sleep through that."
"Good point." Fred said, "We've seen her angry."
"And we wouldn't want that." George said.
"So who's going to be the lucky one to wake her up?" Fred asked.
"Not me." Ron said, "I did that last night."
"No need." Hermione said setting up, "All your yammering woke me up."
"What time is it?" she asked with a yawn. She was blushing at having been caught sleeping on Harry but she was trying her best not to show that she was embarrassed.
"Almost eight" Fred said, "Breakfast is just about ready."
"Good I could use some coffee." She said climbing out of bed.
"As much as this pains me to say, and trust me it does, you might want to change." George suggested, "Professor Dumbledore and Snape are going to be stopping by later and we really don't need a repeat of last night."
"He's got a point." Ron told her.
"Does anyone know where they put my trunks?" she asked not meeting anyone's eyes. It was clear she knew they were talking about Professor Snape.
"I think we can show you." George said wrapping his arm around her shoulder and leading her out of the room with Fred on his heels.
"I don't like the way they've been looking at her." Ron said as he began to get dressed.
"I'm sure they're just teasing her." Harry said sounding unconvinced himself, "That's what they do. You should know that."
"Teasing is one thing" Ron said, "Staring and openly flirting is another."
"Speaking of staring," he said pulling on his shirt, "I take it I wasn't the only one who noticed Snape."
"No you weren't." Harry said, "But maybe we mistook it for something it wasn't. Maybe it was a look of disgust or something."
"We both know what his look of disgust looks like," Ron said, "He's directed it towards us enough times, and that wasn't it."
"I guess…" Harry said, "I was just hoping that maybe we were wrong."
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After quickly finishing getting dressed, Harry and Ron hurried down to the kitchen. Hermione was already at the table, Fred and George on either side of her with Ginny across from her a large smile on her face, Tonks on her right and Kingsley further down the table talking with Mr. Weasley. Mrs. Weasley was at the stove, still fixing breakfast, but whenever she thought no one was looking Harry noticed her shooting angry looks at Hermione.
"Did you boys sleep well?" Remus asked coming in behind them. He, unlike the people at the table, apparently hadn't heard anything about Hermione being in there room.
"Okay I guess." Harry said setting down across from Hermione. George had apparently whispered something funny into her ear because she was giggling. Hermione didn't giggle. Especially at something George and Fred said.
"How about you Hermione?" Tonks asked with a knowing smile, "Did you sleep well?"
"I've slept better." She said shooting her a rather unkind look.
"Have I missed something?" Remus asked confusion written on his face.
"When Arthur and I came downstairs this morning Hermione wasn't in the living-room." Mrs. Weasley said putting a plate of food on the table roughly, "We searched the house and Fred and George found her in Harry and Ron's room. She said the living-room was fine but the minute we turn are backs she's sneaking upstairs to see Harry."
"Mrs. Weasley it wasn't like that." Harry said blushing.
"Well of course you'll defend her." She mumbled under her breathe.
"You shouldn't be mad at Harry, Mrs. Weasley." Hermione said her cheeks red, "I went up there on my own. I was just…and I couldn't sleep…and I just…just don't be angry with Harry, it wasn't his fault."
"I'm not angry with anyone." She said, though her tone said otherwise, "I was just worried when we didn't know where you were. None of you seem to realize the seriousness of this situation."
"Well you didn't exactly tell us anything did you?" Hermione said under her breathe.
"What was that Hermione?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"I said that you hadn't told us anything." She said her voice much stronger this time. "How are we supposed to know what's going on if no one tells us?"
Harry and Ron looked at Hermione in shock. This was the first time that she had ever talked back to Mrs. Weasley. She had disagreed with her before but she had always held her tongue, believing that Mrs. Weasley deserved respect. But Hermione wasn't relenting this time, she had appeared a little nervous at first but her eyes never left Mrs. Weasley's. She wasn't backing down on this one, she wasn't going to let her questions go unanswered, brushed off as if they weren't important.
"Hermione you know that we weren't supposed to tell you anything." Remus said told her softly.
"That hasn't stopped you before." She spat.
"We all thought that it would be in your best interest if we told you as little as possible." Mrs. Weasley said shooting Remus a dirty look.
"My best interest, my best interest." She said with a humorless laugh, "I had to stay in that house, never knowing what could happen or what was happening. And you know, Viktor and his family were great but they weren't my family. I would have liked to be here or with my parents. Remember them? The people that I only see a few months a year and this time it was even less. So you'll have to excuse me if my idea of what is best for me is very different from all of yours."
"Now if you'll excuse me," she said standing up, "I seem to have lost my appetite."
They all watched her go unsure of what to say. They all knew that she was right. Harry had been there before, never knowing what was going on, never knowing why it was going to happen, it was frustrating and he couldn't blame her for blowing up at them. He had done it himself; it was just usually it was directed towards her and Ron, not the adults.
"Should someone follow her?" Ginny asked breaking the silence.
"What's there to say?" Harry asked, "She's right."
"Harry…" Mr. Weasley said.
"Well she is." He said, "I've been there. It's hard to never know what's going on. It's even harder to know that those around you do know and are keeping it from you. You can't just expect her to take it lying down."
"He has a point." Remus said.
"Remus we all agreed that we shouldn't tell them until-"
"I know what we agreed to." He said, "But I'm going to go talk to her and tell her as much as I can."
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He found Hermione outside in the garden with her head in her hand. She hadn't meant to blow up at Mrs. Weasley or get angry with Remus but just so much had been bottled up over the past few months and it finally just exploded. Things didn't seem to be getting any easier and it seemed as if no one cared, no one realized that whatever was happening was effecting her too.
"Hermione." Remus said.
"I'm sorry." She said quickly, "I didn't mean to yell. I'm not angry with you, I'm not angry with any of you. It's…its just a lot."
"I know." He said setting down on the bench next to her, "And I'm sorry, maybe we should have told you more. But to be perfectly honest I don't know how much Ican actually tell you."
"You mean because Professor Dumbledore told you not to?" she asked.
"No, it's because I don't have all the pieces of the puzzle. None of us do."
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"We've only been told on a need to know basis." He said, "And while I may know more then Mrs. Weasley, Moody may know more then me and Severus may know more than him."
"So Professor Snape knows more about this then anyone else?" she asked not waiting for an answer, "You're not very good at this comforting thing are you?"
"I'm sorry but it's the truth." He said with a smile, "Besides I never said I was any good at it."
"Right now, as far as I know, Dumbledore and Severus know the most about everything that's going on. You should wait and talk to them." He said placing his hand over hers, "If you want to know more after you've talked with them then I'll tell you as much as I can."
"Can I ask you a question now?" she asked.
"I can't guarantee you an answer" He said, "But you can ask."
"Is this just about me being friends with Harry," she asked, "Or is it something else?"
"We're not sure." Remus said after a pause. "But we're working hard to try and figure that out." Remus said it trying to be comforting but it wasn't to Hermione, if anything it added to her worry.
Hermione came back into the kitchen a few minutes later. She didn't apologize for what she had said but she was polite and courteous when she was around Mrs. Weasley, but Mrs. Weasley hadn't apologized for anything she said either. Fred and George tried to lighten the mood with a few jokes but tension was still in the air and most of the meal was in silence. No one had realized just how hard this had been on Hermione. Not even Ron or Harry, who had been in a similar situation himself.
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Hermione, who it seems was serious when she said she had lost her appetite, was still picking at her meal when Professor Dumbledore apparated into the dinning room, Professor McGonagall and Snape following behind him.
"Well it seems awfully quiet in here." Dumbledore said a twinkle in his eye, "Have we missed something?"
"Nothing important" Mrs. Weasley said, "We were just having breakfast."
"Well some of us anyways." George said glancing at Hermione's barely touched plate.
"I'm glad to see that you have made it back to us unscathed, Miss Granger." He said causing her to snort resentfully into her glass before she could stop herself.
"You should swallow more carefully." George said patting her on her back trying to cover for her.
"Would any of you care for something to eat?" Mrs. Weasley asked, "We have plenty here."
"Oh no I just ate myself." Dumbledore said.
"Then why don't we head into the living room to discuss this" Mr. Weasley suggested, "It will give us more room." The group followed Mr. Weasley into the living room, except for Ginny, who Mrs. Weasley had sent upstairs despite her many protests.
Dumbledore stood in the middle of the room with Professor McGonagall to his left and Snape to his right while everyone else took their seats around the room. Harry sat on the large couch, Ron and Hermione on either side of him. "I'm sure that you all have a lot of questions." Dumbledore said all eyes on him, "But unfortunately we do not have all the answers to them yet. However I'm sure that by now you have realized that Miss Granger is the reason we're here."
"She is?" Ron asked.
"She is." Dumbledore said, "The Order believes that Miss Granger is in danger. After Severus learned that the Deatheaters were creating a plan to find her we thought that it was best to formulate a plan of are own to keep her safe. That is why we sent her to Mr. Krum's to stay."
"But wouldn't she have been safer here?" Harry asked, "With the members of the Order to protect her?"
"We were trying to hide her. We couldn't very well do that here, it would be the first place they checked. Well the second really but we figured that they already had someone watching the Granger's home." Professor McGonagall explained, "We thought the Krum's would be less predictable and of course they were more than willing to help."
"How much danger is Hermione in?" Ron asked.
"We are not sure." Dumbledore said, "We are working to find out as much as we can but unfortunately that isn't a lot at the moment. It appears that Miss Granger was found as several owls we spotted watching the Krum's house over the last couple of days. So we needed to move Miss Granger again."
"But I thought you said that staying here was dangerous for her?" Harry asked.
"She will not be staying here." He said, "In fact most of you will not be."
"We're going with her?" Ron asked brightening up.
"Arthur and Molly will be staying here so that we keep up appearances and it's up to them if Ginny is to come along. A friend of mine has a small cottage on the beach that he is willing to lend us for awhile. Members of the Order will be staying there with you and extra protection will be given."
"So we get to go to the beach?" Ron asked.
"Yes, you get to go to the beach." Dumbledore said with a smile.
Ron flashed Harry and Hermione both a big grin and Harry couldn't help grin back. He had never been to the beach before, or at least not at a time where he could enjoy it. This would probably be the closest thing to a vacation he had ever had. He turned to Hermione to see what she thought of the idea only to find her playing with the edge of her sleeve, a worried expression on her face. None of her questions had been answered. Nothing had been explained or solved. As far as she knew there was no plan of action other then having her move from place to place for her safety.
She hated not knowing. She hated just having to set there as other people decided something for her. As other people decided what was best for her. She didn't know how Harry did it. She had never felt guiltier for repeatedly telling him to let the adults handle it over the years. She could feel him watching her and she knew he was worried. She took a deep breath before turning to look at him. He was hurting enough because of what had happened to Sirius, she would do what ever it took to make sure that he never felt that way because of her.
As Hermione's dark eyes met Harry's green ones it suddenly hit him full force what this meeting had been about. Another person was in danger because there connection to him. Another person could die because of him. Hermione smiled at him and it was comforting to see. He would make sure that he would always be able to see that smile when he needed to. He wouldn't let anything happen to her. They both knew that he wouldn't be able to go on if something did.
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